This Labor Day, Celebrate Honest, Hard Work

Does work seem like a burden to you at times? In most parts of the world, we tend to work long hours, sometimes at jobs that may seem dreary or uninspiring. But take heart! One of the first things that God created was meaningful labor. In Genesis 2:15, we read that after God created Adam, he "took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." We were created to find meaning and inspiration in the work that we dedicate ourselves to. We hope that this Labor Day, you will celebrate the end of summer with a renewed focus and energy to delve into your work and find the fruitfulness that God desires of each one of us.  

But as you, don't forget Genesis 2:3: "Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Be productive. But don't forget to rest and worship regularly as God has called us to do.  

Meet Animal Advocate Mark, Our Honorary Doctor of the Month!

Mark McMorris, Jr. has been a passionate animal advocate for many years.  In 2016, he founded Mark's Animal Rescue, an organization dedicated to promoting animal rights.  As president of the organization, he has written countless blog articles, created many videos and developed a website to rescue animals and raise awareness of animal issues.  We are very proud to award an honorary doctorate in Animal Advocacy to an individual who cares so much for our four-legged friends!  To find out more about his charity and donate to the cause, please visit www.marksanimalrescue.com.  

Be Free!

This 4th of July marks the 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a historic document ending British rule and proclaiming a free and independent United States of America.  

As we celebrate independence this 4th of July, let us not forget the source of our TRUE personal freedom, Jesus Christ.  Only when we give our lives to Christ can we experience lasting joy and peace, the products of real freedom.  Only when we tear off the bondage of sin can we put on the new, free self of righteousness, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.  We can then say along with Paul, "through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).  Learn more about how we can experience true freedom in Christ in this post.  

The death and resurrection of Jesus are at the heart of the Christian faith.  In fact, the main reason that Jesus came to be among us was to later die for us. Yes, he was a great prophet who taught us much about how to live better lives.  But Jesus was much more than a prophet.  His mission and destiny was to save us by being crucified for our sins. He has given us countless gifts through His death and resurrection, and here are just a few of them:

On Valentine's day, we celebrate the greatest gift given to mankind by our Creator:  the capacity to love others deeply and unconditionally, the same way Jesus loves us each one of us!  Yet some of us don't know how to fully express or receive love, perhaps because we've been hurt by others in the past, or have been raised in homes where love wasn't freely given, or have been conditioned by our modern society to put our own needs first. To love profoundly is a skill that can be strengthened with practice and determination, and the Bible gives us some excellent tips for how to LOVE better:

Want to Accomplish Your Goals and Resolutions This Year?  Start By Renewing Your Faith in Him!

Do you remember that moment when Jesus came into your life?  For many of you, it may have been a time of suffering or pain that led you to Him.  Whatever it was-divorce, depression, betrayal, stress, health problems-the memory of it probably pales in comparison to the intense joy and peace that you experienced at having found your Saviour.  

The moment that you discovered that the utmost meaning and purpose of your life was to serve your Lord is the moment that your chains were broken.  Chains of worry, loneliness, anger, jealousy, guilt, resentment--all broken by the promises made by our Lord to love us unconditionally and shower us with His amazing grace.  

Some of us are fortunate enough to have experienced this transformation in an instant, while others of us have had to work hard to develop our trust in Him.  And still others of us have yet to find Jesus.  Whatever your case may be, we hope that in this new year, your relationship with Him will be stronger and deeper than it has even been, and that through your faith in Him you will reach incredible new heights in your life!

This incredible free Bible app brings God's word into your life every day! More than 300 million people have already installed this ad-free app on their phone or tablet, allowing them to access the Bible at any moment. A great feature of this app are the many Bible Plans that they offer, each around different themes that may interest you, and varying in the length of days.  Here are some of the plans that we recommend:

Larry felt a strong calling to help those who were not only suffering from the debilitating effects of the disease, but also the stigma and discrimination that they faced.  He received certification as a counselor and opened a facility to help this vulnerable population, and would go on to open many other facilities in the United States.  

Larry and his team are now planning to continue their important mission in Eastern Africa, where HIV is widespread and treatment and support are hard to come by.  We hope that with the help of our Lord, Larry will be able to bring much-needed care and hope to populations that are most in need.  Larry, we honor your spirit of giving!

More than 48 years after his death and 53 years after his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr.‘s stirring words and writings remain as relevant and inspiring today as they were when he lived.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day this Monday with 10 of his most poignant quotes—some you may have heard already and some you probably haven’t—but all of them worth repeating and contemplating on this holiday of remembrance, service and equality.

1. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

2. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

3. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.”

4. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

5. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

6. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”

7. “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

8. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

9. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

10. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Start the new year with renewed purpose...

Did you know that many people who receive honorary degrees from us write to tell us later about how getting an honorary doctorate has given them a new sense of motivation and determination?  As the new year starts, with many of us making hopeful resolutions to improve our lives, we want to give you the opportunity to receive honorary recognition for all your accomplishments in the past year, and to propel you into 2017 with more ambition and enthusiasm for what's to come.  

FREE MINI POSTER "Family Rules" (A4)
with every request of an honorary degree!

Today we observe the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, honoring the man who steered a civil-rights movement that pushed America toward a more just and equal society.  King and his followers were opposed to racial discrimination and fought courageously to promote tolerance.  His birthday has become day of service across the country, to recognize the many ways that he gave back to his community throughout his life. Celebrate his memory by attending one of the many events all around the country.  Click here to find out more.

Meet Savanna, Our Honorary Doctor of the Month

Savanna is currently a Technology Integration Specialist, coaching administrators and teachers on effective education technology tools and resources to engage students and provide meaningful access to the core curriculum.

She is also the CEO and lead Education Consultant at Inclusion for a Better Future LLC, where she works with various organizations to prepare teachers in increasing student achievement.  She also provides seminars across the country to share effective instructional practices to improve academic achievement for ALL students.  You can learn more about her organization at their website:  https://www.readingforabetterfuture.com

Congratulations Dr. H.C. Flakes for becoming our Honorary Doctor of the Month!

From all of us at Los Angeles Development Church & Institute, may the miracle of Christmas find you safe in the Peace of God and warm in the Light of Christ.  

Always give thanks with a grateful heart...

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to stop for a moment and reflect upon our blessings with family and friends.  Your business, partnership, support, and friendship mean the world to us, and we would like to express our gratitude with a special offer.  

Many of you who hold honorary degrees from our institute are involved in humanitarian and volunteer work.  Whether it's helping out at-risk youth in your neighborhood, or travelling to Nepal to assist people affected by the earthquake, or even helping a friend or family member through a difficult time--your compassion and dedication does not go unnoticed, and deserves recognition and honor. 

Or you may have been on the receiving end of help this year.  Was there someone in your life--a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a friend, or another individual who supported you with their time and encouragement?  Show them your gratitude with a unique token of appreciation--an honorary doctoral degree.  

And because you enable us to do what we love every day, this Thanksgiving holiday we are giving you a chance to receive TWO HONORARY DEGREES WHEN YOU DONATE FOR ONE!  Receive one for yourself and one for somebody special in your life.  Or get them both for yourself in different disciplines, or both for people you would like to thank.  It's up to you!